Pump for massage apparatus



May 28, 1929- A. zUND-BURGUET v 1,714,898

PUMP FOR MASSAGE APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 192e Fjg l Nvenl 70x' Patented .li/lay 28, i929.,v

U l E S 'lle TES f inter eri-cr..

PUMP FOR MASSAGE APBARAT'S.

Application led February 11, 1926", Serial No. 87,702, and in France February 13, 1925.

rlhis invention relates to a massage apparatus for effecting a massaging action in the following manner z-air or another gas contained in a cup near the zone to be massaged is, at will, successively rarcfied or compressed or receives a'vibratoiy movement of adjust-- able period and amplitude, so that the part to be massaged is subjected, either to a sucking action7 or to vibratory pneumatic hammering, y direct contact with the gas, or by contact with a flexible wall or partition subject to the variations in pressure of the gas. The accompanying drawing illustrates, by

way of example, a constructional embodiment of my apparatus. y

Figs. 1 and 2 diagrammatically illustrate, in axial section and end View, a pump adapted to impart to a volume of air a suitable movement for massaging purposes.

Figs. 3 to 8 illustrate in longitudinal section, various details of the intermediateap-,v paratus inserted between the pump of Figs. 1 and 2, and the `parts to be massaged.

Referring to the drawings the apparatus comprises a cylinder 1 which receives a piston 2 and is provided with two cup shaped leather packings 3 as illustrated. A connecting rod 4 is pivoted directly to the .piston 2 and connected to a crank plate 5 the shaft 6 of which latter being adapted to be continuously rotated by a suitable source of power such as a manually -controlled mechanism. `This source of power may advantageously be derived from a small electric motor connected to the lighting mains.

vThe crank-plate 5 is provided with a series of holes 7 situated at diiferent distances from the center of rotation and adapted to receive a removable crank pin ,8 coupling the connecting rod 4 with the plate 5.

The radial position of the pin 8 with respect to the shaft 6 may thus be varied and. hence change the stroke ofthe piston 2 at will l by placing the pin 8 in thedesired hole 7.

The valve member of the pump is disposed on a head 9 of the pump cylinder 1. 'In said cylinder head is provided a screw threaded hole receiving a screw 10 the exterior-ly projectingliead 1l ofwhich carries an operating 50 lever 12 adapted to be held in the desired angular position, by contact'with a spring 13.` On the inner face of c vlinder head 9 is applied a resilieiitvalve plate 11i secured at one of its ends by a screw 15 and normally clos-l ing by its other end, a channel 16 provided in the cylinder head 9. A nipple 17 is coaxially disposed in the `channel 16 and is adapted to receive a conduit pipe leading to the enclosure used for the massage treatment. Asocond resilient valve plate 18 is fitted on the outer face of the cylinder head 9 at one of its ends by a screw 19 and controls by its free end a channel provided in the cylinder head and opening within the pumpl cylinder.

In operation the reciprocating movements of the piston 2 cause the volume of air in cylinder 1 to vary and through channel 18 passes either aspirated air in the direction of the arrow 21 or air in vibratory motion in the direction of the double arrow 22. e

In the position of screw 1() shown on the drawing it will be seen that the pump being started, the piston 2 in moving away from the cylinder head 9 will admit through the channel 16, a certain quantity of air which the valve plate 1 4: allows to pass. In its return stroke, the piston 2 drives back through the channel 20, lthe air previously aspirated. During this stroke, the valve .plate 18 rises whilst the valve plate 14; is pressed upon the cylinder head l9. Under these conditions, a suction is rconstantly exerted through the conduit 21. If the lever 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow 23 (Fig. 2) so as tol unseat the valve plate 'la and to press the valve plate 18 upon the outer face of the bottom 9, the channel 21 remains constantly in communication with the interior of the p ump cylinder, whilst the channel 20 remains constantly obturated. I It is obvious,'therefore, 90 that'the reciprocal displacement of the piston 2 aspirates and pushes back through the channel 16 a body of air which receives a vibrator-y movement whose characteristics depend on the periodic reciprocating movement imparted to the piston.

The frequency of this vibratory movement depends on the number of revolutions per minute of the plate 5 and its amplitude depends on the crank radius adopted for driving the connecting rod 4:.'

By connecting to the nipple member 17 suitable end pieces, such as those illustrated y in Figs. 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawing,

a suction massage treatment may be obtained,

by placing the said end pieces upon the part of the human body to be massaged. The suction being continuous and perfectly adjustable in intensity, the massaging effect is also e continuous and adjustable in intensity. The 110 end pieces appliedon the epidermis for instance, can be gradually displaced, thus permitting a nervous fibre, a blood vessel or a muscle to be followed throughout its length without any fatigue to the operator, and with perfect continuity, precision andregularity.

IVith the lever l2 shifted, the rapid alternation of the column of gas effects pneumatic vibratory message treatment which is variable at will and which no hand is capable of equalling. By its softness it distinctly differentiates from the eflect produced by apparatus having an eccentric or the like which act only by periodical percussions.

t will be noted that the lever 12acting on the ser w l() fordetermining, at its extreme positions, respectively constant suction and a vibrating' gas column also permits, in each of its intermediate positions, all the intermediate effects, between constant suction and a vibrating gas column. These effects are easily controlled with great accuracy.

The shape given to the end pieces will depend on the parts to be massaged. l

Fig. .3 shows an end piecefor massaging relatively wide external zones. This end piece comprises a socket 2l, made of rubber for instance.y with rounded front edges 25. 'Il he socket 2li is mounted on a slightly tapered rigid bell 26 provided with nipple 27. A cap-nut 28 screwed on a screw thread 29 of the nipple27 firmly holds the socket 2l on the bell 26. A perforate member 30 held at the bottom ofthe bell 26 by means of a re-l silient ring 31, prevents any mattei detached from the epidermis from being drawn into the pump of Figs. l and 2, the nipple 17 of which is connected to the corresponding nipple of the end piece by flexible conduit.

Figs. t to 7, show rigid glass end pieces adapted for the massaging vof narrow facial Zones. Figs. 5 and 7 respectively illustrate the shape of the nose ol' the end pieces of Figs. Y

l and 6 respectively. The nose 32 fits on the epidermis and the operator moves it for following a wrinkle, a nervous fibre or a muscle, throughout its length. l

A cavity 33 isjprovided on the end piece (Fig. 6) so as to provide an expansion chamber the effects of which combine with the vibration of the column of vair under the action of' the pump for realizing particular pulsions substantially in phase with 'the reciprocating movements of the pump piston. I )erforate members similar to members 30 may also be disposed in the end pieces shown in Figs. 4 to (i.

It is obvious that the end pieces utilized in special cases are numerous and it will be suf'- cient to mention one of these devices by way of example. Fig. 8 shows a device for massaging the lprostate gland. This device com* prises a fluid-tight enclosure having a resi-lient or flexible wall 3e, preferably of rubber, which is introduced in the anus of the. patient and is placed so asfto be properly in Contact with the muscular zone adjacent to the prostate gland. At its rear part, the en closure 3ft is secured on a rigid tubular mounting 35 provided with a base 36 axially perforated for the passage of a tube 37 adapted to slide longitudinally in a fluid-tight manner, relatively to the base 36, so that its end within the enclosure Se may be placed at will at any required point along the length of said enclosure.v

The outer end of the tube is provided with a nipple 38 and receives the flexible conduit pipe for connecting it to the pump. When the column of air within 'the enclosure Ell i vibrated, its effect on the flexible wall is particularly noticeable in the neighborhood of the inner end 39 ofthe tube 87, this being due to the inertia of the wall 34C and the frequency of the vibrations. It is therefore eas from the longitudinal position of the tube 37V, to determine the Zone A-A- of' the enclosure 34 where'the vibratory movement effecting the massage is most efficient. For that purpose and for giving clear indications to the practitioners, the tube 37 may be graduated at its rear part, the outer face of' the base 3G serving as an index 'for the graduations.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferable form of my device I do notV wish to be limited thereto as there might be various changes made in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts with out departing from the spirit of' the invention comprehended within the scope of the appended claims. Y

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pump for massage apparatus, in combination, a cylinder, a reciprocable piston vin said cylinder, a cylinder head for said cylinder, a pair of orifices formed in said head extending therethrough, a flexible valve plate covering the inner end of' said orifices, a

nipple in the outer end of one of said orifices,`

a valvek adjusting screw in the other of said orificesadapted yto abut said plate when rotated, a third orifice formed in and extending through said cylinder head, a second flexible valve plate covering the outer end of said last mentioned orifice, means on said screw for rendering said last mentioned valve plate inoperative when said screw is rotated and means for resiliently holding said screw in position.

2. In a pump for massage apparatus, in combination, a cylinder, a reciprocable piston in said cylinder, a cylinder head for said cylinder,y a pair of orifices formed in said head extending therethrough, a flexible valve plate coveringthe inner end ofsaid orifices, a nipple in the outer end of one ofA said orifices, a valve adjusting screw in the other of said orifices adapted to abut said plate when rotated, a third orifice formed in and extending through saidcylinder head, a sec.-

ond flexible valve plate covering the outer' end of said lastmentioned orifice, means on said screw for rendering said last mentioned valve plate inoperative when said screw is rotated and a leaf spring on said cylinder head for resiliently holding said screw in position.

3. In a pump for massage apparatus, in combination, a cylinder, a reciprocable pis` ton in said cylinder, a cylinder head for said cylinder, a pair of orifices formed in said head extending` therethrough, a flexible valve plate covering the inner end of said orifices, a nipple in the outer end of one of said orifices, a valve adjusting screw in the other of said orifices adapted to abut said plate when rotated, a third orifice formed in and extending through said cylinder head, a second flexible valve plate coveringthe outer end of said last mentioned orifice, means on said screw for rendering said last mentioned valve plate inoperative when said screw is rotated, means for resiliently holding said screw in position and an operatinghandle extending from said screw.

1l. In a pump for massage apparatus, in combination, a cylinder, a reciprocable piston in said cylinder, a cylinder head for said cylinder, a pair of orifices formed in said head extending therethrough, a flexible plate covering` the inner end of one of said orifices,

a flexible plate covering the outer end of the other of said orifices, an adjusting screw exF tending through said outer plate and saidA cylinder head adapted to abut said inner plate when rotated, a head on said screw overlapping said outer plate and means for 'rev ton in said cylinder, a cylinder head for said cylinder, a pair of orifices formed in said head extending therethrough, a flexible plate covering the inner end of one of said orifices, a flexibley plate covering the outer end of theother of said orifices, an adjusting screw extending through said outer plate and said cylinder head adapted to abut said inner plate when rotated, a head on said screw overlapping said outer plate, means for resiliently opposing rotation of said screw and means for regulatingthe length of stroke of said piston.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name t0 this specification.

ADOLPI-IE ZUND-BURGUET. 

